The 5th year senior has one last floor performance in her
One last routine. Three more tumbling passes. Several more poses. That is all that is left of Minnesota Golden Gophers 5th year senior Mya Hooten’s collegiate gymnastics career. She will end her tenure as a member of the Gopher gymnastics squad at the NCAA Championships Thursday afternoon when she competes in the floor exercise event final at 3:30 PM.
Hooten will look to cap off her career with a memorable performance at the NCAA Championships. This is her fourth trip to the NCAA Championships in her five seasons at Minnesota. The Gophers advanced as a team to the National Semifinals in 2021 and 2022, where Hooten earned First Team All-American honors both seasons. Hooten went as an individual on vault in 2024, earning a score of 9.875. The score placed her in a tie for 17th in the event, narrowly missing out on what would have been her third career NCAA Second Team All-American honor in the event. This time she makes her first ever individual appearance on floor—an event where she has nine Perfect 10’s in her Minnesota career.
Hooten may need another one if she wants to have any chance to compete for an NCAA title. Along with the gymnasts from the eight advancing schools to the NCAA semifinals—#1 Oklahoma, #2 LSU, No. 3 Florida, #4 Utah, #5 Michigan State, #6 UCLA, #7 Missouri and #8 Alabama, Hooten will also face three other gymnasts who qualified in the floor at their respective regionals in Lilly Smith from Georgia, Creslyn Rose from Kentucky, and Mya Lauzon from Cal. Add in the four individuals competing in the All-Around that features former US Olympian Jade Carey of Oregon State who has three Perfect 10’s on Floor this season, and it is a stacked field.
But Hooten may give the Gophers fans and gymnastics fans a treat. At practice on Wednesday Hooten performed her iconic Sophomore year floor routine anchored by a soundtrack of Beyonce that earned her three Perfect 10’s.
Will she do this in the actual competition on Thursday? There is only one way to find out.
Hooten will rotate with Missouri who is the first team on Floor on Thursday afternoon’s early session at 3:30 PM. The competition will air on ESPN2 with a floor specific stream on ESPN+.